Bear costume used in alleged insurance fraud scheme: Officials

[Craig]

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO —
THIS IS EVIDENCE FOUR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS USED TO SHOW AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THEIR CAR HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO — BY A BEAR.

BUT INVESTIGATORS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE SAY IF YOU TAKE A “CLOSER” LOOK

– YOU’LL REALIZE IT WAS NOT A BEAR AT ALL – BUT A PERSON IN A BEAR COSTUME.

THE SUSPECTS CLAIMED ON JANUARY 28TH A BEAR ENTERED THEIR 20-10 ROLLS ROYCE GHOST IN LAKE ARROWHEAD AND CAUSED INTERIOR DAMAGE.

TO HELP THEIR CASE – THEY PROVIDED VIDEO –– BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ITS DOUBTS – SUSPECTING FRAUD.

CDI LAUNCHED OPERATION BEAR CLAW — DETECTIVES LOOKED INTO THE CASE AND DETERMINED IT WAS ALL PART OF A BEAR COSTUME INSURANCE FRAUD SCHEME.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO DISCOVERED TWO ADDITIONAL INSURANCE CLAIMS TO TWO OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES – BY THE SAME SUSPECTS – ON THE SAME DAY.

THOSE SUPPOSED BEAR BREAK-INS INVOLVED A 20-15 AND 20-22 MERCEDES – AND VIDEO WAS PROVIDED OF THOSE INCIDENTS AS WELL.

TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ON THE TRACK, DETECTIVES ENLISTED THE HELP OF A BIOLOGIST FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE TO REVIEW THE THREE BEAR VIDEOS – THE BIOLOGIST CONCLUDED THE CULPRIT WAS INDEED NOT AN ACTUAL BEAR BUT A HUMAN IN A BEAR COSTUME.

DETECTIVES EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT IN THE SUSPECTS’ HOME AND LOCATED A BEAR COSTUME.

IN ALL – OFFICIALS SAY THE FOUR SUSPECTS —  RANGING IN AGE FROM 26 TO  39 — DEFRAUDED THE INSURANCE COMPANIES OF OVER 141 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

ALL FOUR SUSPECTS WERE CHARGED WITH INSURANCE FRAUD AND CONSPIRACY.

AND NOW INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE REASON TO “PAWS” NEXT TIME THEY SEE A CLAIM WITH A VIDEO OF A TRESPASSING BEAR.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

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